goya welcome letter and calendar - Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox ...

August 25, 2013
Saint Sophia GOYANS and GOYA Parents,
Welcome back to Sunday School and Saint Sophia Cathedral’s Sunday School GOYA
program! Sunday School teachers and youth advisors continue to work hand in hand as we look
forward to a very active and productive year.
As per the Youth Ministries Guidelines of the Direct Archdiocesan District (D.A.D.) of
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Metropolis of New Jersey, GOYA is for
all Saint Sophia Sunday School students age 12 (as of September 1, 2013), and in the 7 th grade,
through age 18 (as of September 1, 2013), and still in high school. College students of any age
are ineligible.
Our activities range from bowling to basketball to religious retreats. This year we will be
helping out with JOY and Little Angels activities where GOYAN’s will be able to earn
community service hours. Also, throughout the year we will conduct other community service
projects. Additionally, we are planning a ski trip and a trip to Kings Dominion.
Attached is a tentative schedule for you to look over, as well as the GOYA registration
form. Each scheduled activity will need a parent volunteer to oversee the organization of the
activity. You will be guiding the GOYA volunteers in the organization of the activity. If you
have a particular interest, please let us know so that we can begin the planning process for that
particular activity as soon as possible. If we do not have a parent volunteer for a particular
activity, that activity will not be held.
Also, included with this letter is an information packet regarding basketball. We will be
hosting a basketball tournament the weekend of October 26-27, 2013 and are looking forward to
everyone’s participation. There will be a dance on Saturday October 26 th in association with the
tournament, in which teens from many of the area churches will be attending.
Please remember GOYA is not just basketball. As you have just seen from the above we
have many other activities, especially for those who do not play basketball.

Stay connected with the Cathedral Connection to keep up to date on all youth activities.
A copy of the latest issue is attached. You can also look on the Cathedral’s website to find the
most recent issue.
We will hold our first GOYA meeting on Sunday September 22, 2013 immediately after
Sunday School. Please join us to meet everyone and hear about all of the wonderful things we
are planning for this upcoming year.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Christina Sardelis,
GOYA advisor at 301-908-1221, csardelis@verizon.net, Costa Sardelis GOYA President at
t.c.sardelisgmail.com or Eleni Planzos, Sunday School Youth Director at 301-871-9196,
esplanzos@verizon.net.
Yours in Christ,
_______________________
Rev. Dr. Steven Zorzos
Presiding Priest
Eleni Planzos
Sunday School Youth Director
______________________
Rev. Dimitrios Lee
Assistant Priest
Christina Sardelis
Sunday School GOYA Advisor
Costa Sardelis
Sunday School GOYA President

August 25, 2013
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Basketball season is just around the corner, and it’s time to announce the Saint Sophia GOYA
basketball program. The season will kick off on September 16, 2013 at 7:30 PM. Basketball
practice is every Monday night, 7:30 PM, at Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd,
Bethesda, MD 20817, except when Montgomery County Schools are closed.
Basketball is open to any Saint Sophia Sunday School student 12 yrs. of age by September 1,
2013 (and in 7 th grade) through 18 yrs. of age by September 1, 2013 (and still in high school), as
per the Archdiocese of America and Metropolis of New Jersey youth ministry guidelines.
College students of any age are ineligible.
On the first day of practice please bring the following items:
Three Page Registration Packet (enclosed)
$20 GOYA Membership Dues
$30 Uniform Fee (Only for new players)
Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians (enclosed)
In order to fully participate in the Basketball team, all players are required to:
Enroll in the 2013/2014 Sunday School program at Saint Sophia Cathedral
Participate in Divine Liturgies, Sunday School, and/or Altar Duty
Attend all practices (If there is a valid excuse, the player or parent must contact one of
the coaches)
Attend tournaments
Volunteer at GOYA events and other Saint Sophia functions
Pay the designated registration fee for each tournament (Includes all meals for
tournament weekends)
Participate in regular GOYA events and outings
Coaches will be taking attendance at practices, tournaments, events, and Sunday School.
Attendance will have a direct impact on playing time on the court!
The teams participate in approximately 8 tournaments throughout the year. The schedule
generally begins in September and ends in May, excluding the Lenten season. There will be at
least one overnight tournament that requires team players to stay in a hotel.

Player transportation to the away tournament is by chartered bus. The following is a partial list
of tournaments which will be updated as dates become available:
October 5 – 6, 2013
October 12 - 13, 2013
October 26 - 27, 2013
November 23 - 24, 2013
April 26 – 27, 2014
Sts. Constantine and Helen, Washington, DC
St George
Our tournament
Annunciation, Baltimore
St. Katherine, Virginia
The Saint Sophia tournament will be held on the weekend of October 26 – 27, 2013. Basketball
games will be played at St. Albans and all meals, activities and dance are held in the Saint
Sophia auditorium. Volunteers are necessary to make this a success! All Sunday School
students, regardless of whether they play basketball are invited to participate in all tournament
activities.
We are all looking forward to a great and exciting new season! Saint Sophia Basketball has a
tradition of excellence and we will carry on that tradition this year. The teams and coaches will
be working hard to compete in a spirit of healthy competition and Christ‐like love.
In Christ,
Rev, Steven Zorzos
Presiding Priest
Rev. Dimitrios Lee
Assistant Priest
George Wallace
Michael Polchert
Head Basketball Coach
Girls Basketball Coach
301‐980‐9418 mpolchert@gmail.com
governorgw@gmail.com
Dean Economides
Evan Gaginis
Boys B Coach
Girls Basketball Coach
301‐922‐0663 eganginis@yahoo.com
dmides@gmail.com
Eleni Planzos
Sunday School Youth Director
301‐871‐9196
esplanzos@verizon.net

SAINT SOPHIA SUNDAY SCHOOL GOYA ACTIVITIES
CALENDAR FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014
The following is the proposed calendar for 2013-2014 Saint Sophia Sunday School GOYA Activities.
There will be updates and modifications as new information presents itself. All suggestions and recommendations
are welcome. This program is open to all Sunday school teenagers, ages 12 to 18. It is not just a basketball
program. It is a chance for all Saint Sophia Sunday School students to participate and get to know one another.
September 15, 2013
September 15, 2013
September 22, 2013
October 5 – 6, 2013
October 12-13, 2013
October 26 – 27, 2013
November 10, 2013
November 16, 2013
November 23 – 24, 2013
December 7, 2013
December 14-15, 2013
January 11, 2014
January 19, 2014
February 1, 2014
February 16, 2014
March 8, 2013
March 29, 2014
April 12, 2014
April 12, 2014
April 13, 2014
April 20, 2014
April 26 – 27, 2014
May 3-4, 2014
May 17 - 18, 2014
May 10, 2014
May 17, 2014
May 18, 2014
First day of Sunday school
Welcome back to Sunday School picnic
GOYA Meeting after church
Sts. Constantine & Helen’s basketball tournament**
St. George’s basketball tournament**
Saint Sophia’s basketball tournament***
Bake sale
Laser Tag
Annunciation, Baltimore basketball tournament
Little Angels & JOY Christmas party*
Christmas Retreat
Ice skating with the Little Angels and JOY groups
Bake Sale
Ski Trip
GOYA Meeting after church
Bowling
Movie Night
Saturday of Lazarus – Family Communion
set- up and cooking for Plaki luncheon
Plaki luncheon
Easter
St. Katherine’s basketball tournament
St. Demetrios basketball tournament
Festival
End of year Basketball party
Trip to Kings Dominion
Last Day of Sunday School and Luncheon
* GOYAN’s are encouraged to help Joy & Little Angels with their events. This is a good way to get community
service hours and participate in exciting church events. They run from 6:00 until 8:00 pm
** All basketball tournaments have a dance on the Saturday evening of the tournament weekend. All GOYAN’s are
welcome to attend the dances whether they play basketball or not.
*** All GOYANs are welcome and encouraged to help run our basketball tournament.